Have a heart! With Valentine’s Day coming up, hearts are everywhere, but the most important heart is the one that beats inside your body to keep you breathing, walking, talking, smiling, hugging — so please take extra-special care if it.
February is heart-healthy month to remind us of what we should and should not do, what foods are the best and how often to exercise to keep this muscle strong for years to come. So many of us think as long as it’s pumping there is nothing to be concerned about. But that is not always true. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and poor lifestyle habits can begin the downward spiral.
And what we eat has a great deal to do with how our heart acts. Recently, medical professionals have concluded that inflammation is a primary cause of heart disease, which can be combated by changing our eating habits. It’s time to start reading labels on even frozen foods that claim to be “lean” and “heart healthy” to be sure they are not filled with refined sugars or vegetable oils to preserve them for longer periods of time. Fresh is always best, and eating whole grains, fish, and leafy greens should replace the fast foods and pop so you stick around into old age.
You young people should care enough about yourself to get heart smart. Needless to say, smoking and excess alcohol should be a thing of the past. Just replace those things with fun activities that will get your heart pumping and keep your weight under control too. Then, as you hug the sweethearts in your life, give yourself a big hug for having a healthy heart. Hugs are the best ’cause they make us feel warm inside, are the same in any language, cost nothing to share, give others a good feeling that lasts, and are the best when we give them away.
Portage High School student Rachel Diaz, a member of the Video Productions class at the Porter County Career and Technical Center, won the Drive Safe Chicago contest for the best public service announcement. Her video focused on the dangers of distracted driving, and the results.
Her public service announcement will be shown at the Chicago Auto Show, and then will be shown nationally on TV, so keep a lookout for this informative ad by one of our own. Rachel used some of her classmates for her video production, so, who knows, it may be someone’s chance to be “discovered.”
Fellow Portage competitor Ryan Malirik received second place in the contest. Congratulations, Rachel and Ryan for your outstanding videos to help remind all of us of our driving responsibilities. You are my pet persons of the week.
Porter County Career and Technical Center students continue to shine in so many ways. Marketing instructor Jennifer Gaulins has 15 students who earned the right to compete at the state District Career Development Conference, which will be held in Indianapolis on March 8-10. Each of the students will compete in their respective categories including team and individual competitions.
It’s been a super time for the center’s staff and students, as several staff members won state awards, and the center was honored for being the second best in the state. This quote from an unknown source describes the attitude at the center: “Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and the thinkers but most of all surround yourself with those who see greatness within you even when you don’t see it yourself.” Congratulations to each and every one of you.
Don’t forget to give someone you love a hug today (and every day). Happy Valentine’s Day birthday, Ruth, and Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you. I hope you have a great day because you deserve it. Thanks for reading. Fly your flag.
Lorrie Woycik is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.